Reduction numbers and initial ideals

The reduction number r(A) of a standard graded algebra A is the least integer k such that there exists a minimal reduction J of the homogeneous maximal ideal m of A such that Jm^k=m^{k+1}. Vasconcelos conjectured that the reduction number of A=R/I can only increase by passing to the initial ideal, i.e r(R/I)\leq r(R/in(I)). The goal of this note is to prove the conjecture.Comment: 6 page

Koszul homology and extremal properties of Gin and Lex

In a polynomial ring $R$ with $n$ variables, for every homogeneous ideal $I$ and for every $p\leq n$ we consider the Koszul homology $H_i(p,R/I)$ with respect to a sequence of $p$ of generic linear forms and define the Koszul-Betti number $\beta_{ijp}(R/I)$ of $R/I$ to be the dimension of the degree $j$ part of $H_i(p,R/I)$. In characteristic 0, we show that the Koszul-Betti numbers of any ideal $I$ are bounded above by those of any gin of $I$ and also by those of the Lex-segment of $I$. We also investigate the set $Gins(I)$ of all the gin of $I$ and show that the Koszul-Betti numbers of any ideal in $Gins(I)$ are bounded below by those of the gin-revlex of $I$ and present examples showing that in general there is no $J$ is $Gins(I)$ such that the Koszul-Betti numbers of any ideal in $Gins(I)$ are bounded above by those of $J$.Comment: 21 pages, preprint 200

Groebner bases for spaces of quadrics of codimension 3

Let $R=\oplus_{i\geq 0} R_i$ be an Artinian standard graded $K$-algebra defined by quadrics. Assume that $\dim R_2\leq 3$ and that $K$ is algebraically closed of characteristic $\neq 2$. We show that $R$ is defined by a Gr\"obner basis of quadrics with, essentially, one exception. The exception is given by $K[x,y,z]/I$ where $I$ is a complete intersection of 3 quadrics not containing the square of a linear form.Comment: Minor changes, to appear in the J. Pure Applied Algebr

The variety of exterior powers of linear maps

Let $K$ be a field and $V$ and $W$ be $K$-vector spaces of dimension $m$ and $n$. Let $\phi$ be the canonical map from $Hom(V,W)$ to $Hom(\wedge^t V,\wedge^t W)$. We investigate the Zariski closure $X_t$ of the image $Y_t$ of $\phi$. In the case $t=\min(m,n)$, $Y_t=X_t$ is the cone over a Grassmannian, but $X_t$ is larger than $Y_t$ for $1<t<\min(m,n)$. We analyze the G=\GL(V)\times\GL(W)-orbits in $X_t$ via the corresponding $G$-stable prime ideals. It turns out that they are classified by two numerical invariants, one of which is the rank and the other a related invariant that we call small rank. Surprisingly, the orbits in $X_t\setminus Y_t$ arise from the images $Y_u$ for $u<t$ and simple algebraic operations. In the last section we determine the singular locus of $X_t$. Apart from well-understood exceptional cases, it is formed by the elements of rank $\le 1$ in $Y_t$.Comment: Few minor changes. Final version to appear in J. of Algebr

KRS and determinantal ideals

The first sections contain a survey of the application of the Knuth-Robinson-Schensted corerspondence to the computation of Groebner bases of determinantal ideals. We also set up a conceptual framework for this application in terms of so-called "KRS invariants". Then we show that the initial ideal of a determinantal ideal "defined by shape" is given by its KRS image. We furthermore characterize those among these ideals that even have a Groebner basis of products of minors, and show that they can be characterized in terms of Greene's KRS invariants. Furthermore it is shown that for the ideal generated by all t-minors the formation of initial ideal and symbolic power commutes. The last section contains a discussion of potential KRS invariants related to so-called 1-cogenerated ideals.Comment: 22 pages, uses epic, eepi

Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity of products of ideals

We discuss the behavior of the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity under certain operations on ideals and modules, like products or powers. In particular, we show that reg(IM) can be larger than reg(M)+reg(I) even when I is an ideal of linear forms and M is a module with a linear resolution. On the other hand, we show that any product of ideals of linear forms has a linear resolution. We also discuss the case of polymatroidal ideals and show that any product of determinantal ideals of a generic Hankel matrix has a linear resolution.Comment: 14 page